Infantry did at last arrive, but in such small numbers that it made the situation more difficult instead of easing it.

Colonel Bullock had brought up two companies of the Devons to join the two companies (A and B) of Scots Fusiliers who had been the original escort of the guns, but such a handful could not turn the tide.

They also took refuge in the donga, and waited for better times.
In the meanwhile the attention of Generals Buller and Clery had been called to the desperate position of the guns, and they had made their way to that further nullah in the rear where the remaining limber horses and drivers were.

This was some distance behind that other donga in which Long, Bullock, and their Devons and gunners were crouching.

'Will any of you volunteer to save the guns ?' cried Buller.